POSNA Leadership Program (PLP): Developing surgeon leaders for patients, organizations, and our society

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) initiated a Leadership Program in 2022. The POSNA Leadership Program (PLP) is designed to enhance emotional intelligence (social skills, empathy, communication, self-regulation, and self-awareness) and in-depth leadership skill development for selected participants in a year-long seminar. Disruptive behaviors detrimental to health care professionals, patients, and care delivery organizations can be identified and lessened through education. Most surgeons rightfully focus their learning intently on specific surgical knowledge and technical expertise, especially in the early and middle career stages. Despite this, surgical errors still occur secondary to limitations of nontechnical surgical skills: decision-making, communication, leadership, and teamwork. More senior surgeons are also prone to leadership and communication errors. By gaining education and expertise in nontechnical surgical skills, improved team building with more professional staff engagement, empowerment, and trust can result in lower risk.